Retractable cassette holder for an x-ray table

ABSTRACT

An X-ray table is disclosed which includes a top surface which is normally in a horizontal position and a compartment on one side of the top surface. Retractable means are provided for supporting an X-ray cassette holder in a vertical radiographic position above and at one side of the top surface of the table and for withdrawing the cassette holder into a parked vertical position below the top surface into the compartment.

United States Patent inventor Roscoe Earl Miller Indianapolis, Ind.

Appl. No. 86,026

Filed Nov. 2, 1970 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 Assignee Litton Medical Products, Inc.

Des Plaines, Ill.

RETRACTABLE CASSETTE HOLDER FOR AN X- RAY TABLE 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 250/58, 250/65 R, 250/66 Int. Cl G03b 41/16 Field of Search 250/50, 66, 58, 65 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,444,368 5/1969 Cosby 250/50 Primary Examiner-Archie R. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerC. E. Church Attorneys-Franklin D. .lankosky, Walter R. Thiel, Alfred B.

Levine and Alan C. Rose ABSTRACT: An X-ray table is disclosed which includes a top surface which is normally in a horizontal position and a compartment on one side of the top surface. Retractable means are provided for supporting an X-ray cassette holder in a vertical radiographic position above and at one side of the top surface of the table and for withdrawing the cassette holder into a parked vertical position below the top surface into the compartment.

PATENTEDNUV 2 3 l97l SHEET 1 UF 2 ROSCOE EARL M/L L 5/? IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY RETRACTABLE CASSETTE HOLDER FOR AN X-RAY TABLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to X-ray tables, and more particularly to an improved X-ray table which includes means for supporting an X-ray cassette holder vertically along one edge of the table for use in lateral X-ray shots and means for retracting the cassette holder into a compartment in the side of the table when the cassette holder is not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art, whenever it has been desired to take a lateral X-ray shot of a patient, a shot in which the X-rays are projected horizontally across the table top and through the patient to expose a vertical sheet of X-ray film, it has been the practice to either have the patient himself hold the X-ray film in a suitable cassette in avertical position on the opposite side of him from the X-ray source, or for a technician or other assistant to hold the film if the patient is unable to do so. An obvious drawback to this type of arrangement is that it sometimes requires additional personnel and also there is a definite risk of movement of the film during exposure, whether the film is being held by the patient or by an assistant.

The prior art has suggested several mechanical approaches to the problem, including the use of stands to support the cassette holder in a vertical position on the edge of the table and the use of a vacuum or suction cup arrangement to hold the cassette along the edge of the X-ray table. However, none of these prior art devices has found any widespread acceptance because of various problems that each of them has presented.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved X-ray table.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved X-ray table for taking lateral X-ray shots.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved X-ray table which includes practical and convenientmeans for holding an X-ray cassette holder vertically along one edge of the table to facilitate lateral X-ray shots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, and in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an X-ray table is provided which includes retractable means for supporting an X- ray cassette holder in a vertical radiographic position above and at one side of the table top surface and for withdrawing .said holder to a parked vertical position below the radiographic position and below the top surface of the table when the cassette holder is not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an X-ray table I which incorporates the present invention and FIG. 2 shows a side view of the same X-ray table but which, for purposes of illustrating some of the details of the invention, has the dress panel 12 removed from the lower side portion of table 10. For clarity of description, the FIGS. 1 and 2 are described simultaneously, with the same reference numeral in the figures designating the same parts.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, X-ray table 10 includes a top surface 14, which is usually horizontal, although if desired the table 10 can be the rotating type of X-ray table. In operation, a patient to be X-rayed is positioned on the top surface 14 of X- ray table 10 and an X-ray source (not shown in the Figures) subjects the patient to X-radiation to expose X-ray film positioned opposite the patient from the X-ray source. The X-ray source may be positioned either above the table for a vertical shot or beside the table for a lateral shot across the top surface 14 of table 10.

In accordance with the present invention, table 10 also includes an X-ray cassette holder 16, which may be any conventional cassette holder. Since the cassette holder per se forms no part of the present invention, no details of cassette holder 16 are described herein. Cassette holder 16 is mounted vertically along one side of top surface 14 and is retractably supported so that it can be retracted into a compartment 18 which opens through shelf 20 whenever the cassette holder 16 is not in use. Whenever it is desired to take a lateral X-ray shot, cassette holder 16 is extended out of compartment 18 into the radiographic position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that a cassette 68, which includes X-ray film is held securely for the lateral X-ray shot.

Cassette holder 16 is supported by two retractable members 22 and 24, with each of these members supporting a respective one of the vertical edges of cassette holder 16. Retractable member 22 is formed from three attached but relatively movable channel elements 26, 28 and 30. Each of these channel elements in extendable and retractable relative to its adjacent channel element, but is securely attached thereto so that the channel elements cannot be laterally separated. Such extendable channels per se are well known and need not be further described here. The first element 26 of retractable member 22 is secured to table 10 by any suitable manner, as by bolts 32. The second element 28 receives the cassette holder 16 and the third element 30 connects elements 26 and 28 and allows the elements to be extended and retracted, thereby raising and lowering cassette holder 16. In a similar manner, retractable member 24 is formed from the relatively movable channel elements 32, 34 and 36, with the first element 32 secured to table 10, as by bolts 38, the second element 34 holding the other vertical edge of cassette holder 16 and the third element 36 interconnecting the elements 32 and 34. Acting together, the retractable members 22 and 24 allow the cassette holder 16 to be'extended out of compartment 18 and into its radiographic position when it is desired -to take a lateral X-ray shot of a patient.

When the retractable members 22 and 24 are retracted, in a manner described below, the cassette holder 16 is lowered into the compartment 18 into a parked position oirt of the way of any use to which X-ray table 10 might be put. In both the radiographic position and the parked position, the cassette holder 16 is always held vertically. In FIGS. l and 2, the cassette holder 16 is shown in the radiographic position.

Cassette holder 16 is secured to the channel elements 28 and 34 by any suitable manner, such as by the plurality of screws 66 shown. The cassette 68 may be removed from the cassette holder at any time in order to process the exposed X- ray film and to insert a like cassette having fresh unexposed X- ray film. The removal of the cassette 68 may be easily accomplished by grasping the cassette 68 in the cutaway portion of the cassette holder 16.

Cassette holder 16 is retained in either the radiographic position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the parked position, shown and described in FIG. 3 below, by three latches 40, 42 and 44. The first latch 40 engages a gear rack 46 which extends along the outer surface of channel member 30 to retain channel member 30 in any desired position relative to channel member 26. As is described in more detail in connection with the description of FIG. 3 below, the second latch 42 engages a shorter section of gear rack 48 which is secured to the inner surface of thetop of element 28 whenever cassette holder 16 is in the parked position, thereby retaining it in the parked position. The third latch 44, which can be spring activated if desired, engages the top surface of element 30 when element 28 is in its extended position, thereby preventing element 28 from retracting or sliding downwardly under the influence of gravity. Thus, in the shown position, the first latch 40 and the third latch 44 maintain cassette holder 16 in its extended radiographic position.

Whenever it is desired to change the position of cassette holder 16, pushbutton 50, which may be considered to be the latch control member for latches 40 and 42, is manually depressed. This moves bar 52 downward and this downward movement is coupled to the latches 40 and 42 through a conventional slot-and-pin arrangement to cause the latching elements of latches 40 and 42 to move laterally, to the left to a disengaged position. If desired, suitable spring biasing means such as the coil spring 54 and the leaf spring 56 can be provided to bias the latches into an engaged position to the right whenever pushbutton 50 is not depressed.

When pushbutton 50 is depressed, thereby disengaging first latch 49 and second latch 42, and when the spring loaded third latch 44 is also disengaged, the various elements of the two retractable members 22 and 24 may be retracted and the eassette holder 16 lowered downwardly into the compartment 18.

.Handle 58 may conveniently be used during this operation if desired. As cassette holder 16 is lowered further into compartment 18, the bottom of cassette holder 16 engages a pair of spring membersv 60. As cassette holder 16 is pushed further into compartment 18, the spring members 60 are compressed until the position shown in FIG. 3 is reached. At this time, pushbutton 50 may be released and the leaf spring 56 forces the second latch 42 into engagement with the gear rack 48 attached to element 28, thereby retaining cassette holder 16 in the parked position shown in FIG. 3. Spring 54 also draws the latch element of first latch 40 into engagement with the gear rack 46, thereby retaining element 30 in the position shown in FIG. 3. Cassette holder 16 then remains in the parked position shown in FIG. 3 until an operator desires to place it in the extended radiographic position once again.

When-it is desired to raise cassette holder 16, the pushbutton 50 is once again depressed. At this time, the latching members 40 and 42 are again withdrawn from their respective gear racks and the compressed spring members 60 pop the cassette holder 16 upward out of compartment 18 so that an operator can grasp handle 58 and draw cassette holder 16 fully upwardly to the extended radiographic position. The third latching member 44 automatically pops outward once it clears the top surface of element 30 and the pushbutton 50 is released. This allows the first latch 40 to engage the gear rack 46, thereby holding the third element 30 in its extended position relative to the first element 26. At this time, cassette holder 16 is again in its radiographic position ready for use in 7 any desired manner.

All three figures also show a flexible cover such as a rubber door 62, which is attached to shelf along the far edge of the a opening of compartment 18. When the cassette holder 16 is extended upwardly into its radiographic position, the flexible cover 62 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When cassette holder 16 is retracted into its parked position, as shown in FIG. 3, flexible cover 62 covers the opening of compartment 18, thereby preventing foreign objects from falling downward into compartment 18.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also show a lead sheet 64 which is positioned on the back side of compartment 18 to provide a radiation shield for the cassette holder 16 when it is in its parked position. This shielding arrangement allows unexposed X-ray film to be stored in cassette holder 16 so that the table can be that the invention be limited to this shown embodiment. Instead, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art which lie within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an X-ray table which includes a top surface which is normally in a horizontal position, the improvement comprismg:

retractable means for supporting an X-ray cassette holder in a first vertical radiographic position above and at one side of said top surface and for withdrawing said cassette holder to a second parked vertical position below said radiographic position and below said top surface wherein said retractable means comprises at least two relatively movable elements capable of assuming extended and retracted positions relative to each other, means for securing a first one of said elements to said X- ray table, means for securing said cassette holder to the second one of said elements, and locking means for locking said elements in their extended position for sup porting said cassette holder in said radiographic position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said retractable means includes a third relatively movable element positioned between said first and second elements capable of assuming extended and retracted positions relative to each of said first and second elements.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said locking means comprises a first latch for selectively locking said third element to said first element when said third element is in its extended position, its retracted position, or any position intermediate to its extended and retracted positions relative to said first element, a second latch for selectively locking said second element to said first element when said second element is in its retracted position relative to said first element, and a third latch for selectively locking said second element to said third element when said second element is in its extended position relative to said third element.

4. The invention of claim 3 which further includes spring biasing means for urging said cassette holder into its radiosecond latches whenever said latch control member is activated.

6. The invention of claim 5 which further includes a handle for lifting said cassette holder into its radiographic position when said latch control member is activated.

7. The invention of claim 1 in which said X-ray table further includes a compartment on one side of said table into which said cassette holder is retracted when it is in its parked position.

8. The invention of claim 7 which further includes a flexible cover over the top of said compartment to close said compartment when said cassette holder is in its parked position.

9. The invention of claim 8 which further includes lead shielding means for shielding said cassette holder from radiation when it is in its parked position.

253 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,622,783 Dated November 23, 197

In nwfl g oe Earl Miller It is certified that: error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, Line 30, after the word "elements" substitute the word --is-- for the word "in".

Col. 4, lines 21 and 29, delete the quotation marks.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer ROBERT GOTTSHCALK Commissioner of Patents 

1. In an X-ray table which includes a top surface which is normally in a horizontal position, the improvement comprising: retractable means for supporting an X-ray cassette holder in a first vertical radiographic position above and at one side of said top surface and for withdrawing said cassette holder to a second parked vertical position below said radiographic position and below said top surface ''''wherein said retractable means comprises at least two relatively movable elements capable of assuming extended and retracted positions relative to each other, means for securing a first one of said elements to said X-ray table, means for securing said cassette holder to the second one of said elements, and locking means for locking said elements in their extended position for supporting said cassette holder in said radiographic position.''''
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which said retractable means includes a third relatively movable element positioned between said first and second elements capable of assuming extended and retracted positions relative to each of said first and second elements.
 3. The invention of claim 2 in which said locking means comprises a first latch for selectively locking said third element to said first element when said third element is in its extended position, its retracted position, or any position intermediate to its extended and retracted positions relative to said first element, a second latch for selectively locking said second element to said first element when said second element is in its retracted position relative to said first element, and a third latch for selectively locking said second element to said third element when said second element is in its extended position relative to said third element.
 4. The invention of claim 3 which further includes spring biasing means for urging said cassette holder into its radiographic position whenever it is in its parked position.
 5. The invention of claim 4 which further includes a latch control member and means for disengaging said first and second latches whenever said latch control member is activated.
 6. The invention of claim 5 which further includes a handle for lifting said cassette holder into its radiographic position when said latch control member is activated.
 7. The invention of claim 1 in which said X-ray table further includes a compartment on one side of said table into which said cassette holder is retracted when it is in its parked position.
 8. The invention of claim 7 which further includes a flexible cover over the top of said compartment to close sAid compartment when said cassette holder is in its parked position.
 9. The invention of claim 8 which further includes lead shielding means for shielding said cassette holder from radiation when it is in its parked position. 